Canada decided yesterday to return turbines intended for Russia's Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany to ease the energy crisis with Russia, despite Ukraine's calls "not to give in to the Kremlin's blackmail," BTA reported.

Ukraine had strongly urged Canada not to return the turbines, which are currently in the workshops of the company "Siemens" in the province of Quebec, near Montreal.

Russian gas company Gazprom cited the absence of the turbines to justify cutting its Nord Stream pipeline supplies to Germany in mid-June.

Canada will grant Siemens-Canada a time-limited and revocable permit to allow the refurbished Nord Stream 1 turbines to be returned to Germany, helping Europe get affordable and reliable energy, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said.

Without the necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will experience very serious difficulties, and Germans themselves may not be able to heat their homes as winter approaches, Wilkinson explained in a statement.

The Canadian minister accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of wanting to "sow discord among allies".

For several weeks, the German government has been in "intensive contact" with Ottawa to ensure the return of this equipment to Europe, despite the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Fearing that Russia might soon cut off the gas supply entirely, Germany had suggested that Canada take back the turbines.

Berlin did not believe there were any technical reasons, such as those cited by Gazprom, as the basis for the supply cuts, but believed that returning the turbines would deprive Russia of an argument to prolong this gas shut-off, which could turn into a major energy crisis. crisis.

Ukraine believed that Ukrainian pipelines were capable of transporting enough gas to Germany to compensate for the drop in Russian supplies.

"We must not give in to the Kremlin's blackmail," Sergiy Makogon, the head of gas transport operator OGTSU, said on Thursday.

In addition, Canada announced yesterday that it plans to expand its economic sanctions against Russia to cover industrial production.

The new sanctions will cover land transport and pipeline transport, as well as the production of metals and transport, information, electronic and electrical equipment, as well as machinery, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie listed.

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